Singapore

On the first EP they recorded the song that won them the prize, I Believe, and also Lace Covered Window, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, and Never My Love. The latter song, made famous by The Association, but recorded by many other artists, is the one that I include here. The Tidbits were backed on this EP by popular Singapore band The Trailers.

On their second EP, also in 1968, The Tidbits were backed by The X’periment and then went back to being schoolgirls.

The Tidbits - Never My Love

Looking at the cover and listening to the song, one might think it was a celebration of the young generation, but it is actually very critical, claiming that the young men with their long hair are rather unpleasant and that parents can only shake their heads etc, but I think the whole thing is sung a bit tongue in cheek. The cover and label give no clue as to the origin of this group, but I will take a punt with Singapore as I have only ever seen two other Libra releases and one of those was definitely a Singapore band.

Kelsom Hashim & Plastic Deers - Pemuda Pemudi Sekarang

The Rythmn Boys first came to prominence backing singer A. Ramlie on his first few EPs, which were big hits in Singapore and Malaysia in 1966. The band made recordings following that with a number of other singers, including S. Mariam, Novel (from Indonesia), M. Amin, Adnan Othman, and S. Ahmad. Not all those recordings include organ and some of the record covers have pictures of the band with only four members, so A. Rahim Razak may have joined later.

Presented here are the first two EPs The Rythmn Boys recorded with Ramlah Aziz. There are good songs on both EPs, but the thing that really impresses me is the organ playing, especially on the second EP, which adds a very atmospheric tone.

The titles on the first EP are Bertemasha (Excursion), Kaseh Yang Suchi (Pure Love), Kerana Setia (Because Of Loyalty) and Rela (Consent), which seems to be another song related to Indonesia’s ‘Confrontation’ with Malaysia, in which Ramlah consents to her loved one going off to ‘defend the nation’.

Ramlah Aziz & the Rythmn Boys - Bertemasha
Ramlah Aziz & the Rythmn Boys - Kaseh Yang Suchi
Ramlah Aziz & the Rythmn Boys - Kerana Setia
Ramlah Aziz & the Rythmn Boys - Rela

On the second EP the songs are Janji (Promise), Untok Mu (For You), Balasan Illahi (God’s Judgement) and Sukma Ria (Proud Soul). A number of songs on both EPs are credited to Salleh Aziz, who may have been Ramlah’s brother, or other relation. I have seen reports of The Rythmn Boys playing nostalgia concerts over many years. Perhaps they never stopped.

Ramlah Aziz & the Rythmn Boys - Balasan Illahi
Ramlah Aziz & the Rythmn Boys - Sukma Ria
Ramlah Aziz & the Rythmn Boys - Janji
Ramlah Aziz & the Rythmn Boys - Untok Mu

(Updated from the original January 3, 2008 post to include new text and scans and songs from her first EP.)

Let ‘Em Come, a quite reasonable, rollicking sort of number, is credited to Peter van Dort and might be a cover version, but I haven’t been able to discover anything more about the writer or the song.

The standout on this single for me, however, is definitely the A side, I’ve Been A Fool, written by Dicky Tan, who was for some time the Silver Strings lead guitarist. The song has a shuffling Louie Louie/Farmer John type of rhythm punctuated by a couple of excellent guitar breaks, presumably executed by Dicky himself.

I haven’t been able to find out much more about the Silver Strings, but judging from the cover photo this is the same line-up as appeared on Shirley Nair’s EPs. Mike and Herb, who appear to be brothers, are in the centre of the photo.

Mike and Herb with the Silver Strings - I've Been a Fool
Mike and Herb with the Silver Strings - Let 'em Come

Later in 1966 the Trailers had another hit with their second single, another original, the excellent Don’t Laugh (You’ll Cry), backed with a great version of Little Richard’s Lucille. This was followed in early 1967 by an all instrumental EP, with new keyboardist Jimmy Chan, that yielded one of their most evergreen tunes, Phoenix’s Theme, which apparently is still a feature of many Singaporean Chinese New Year celebrations. Another standout tune is Alisan, based on a Taiwanese folk-song that praises the beauty of the Taiwanese maidens from the island’s highest peak. Ding Ding Song is also based on a Chinese tune and Lara’s Theme, from the film Dr Zhivago, is the odd one out. My copy of this EP is a bit rough, but it has a slightly different cover to all the other copies I have seen.

In late 1967 the Trailers released two more EPs which I haven’t heard yet, but in 1968 they had another line-up change when Patrick Foo replaced Jimmy Chan on keyboards. In late 1968 they released what I believe is their last recording, another fine EP with the original I’m Ready Now, the instrumental Peter Gunn and two covers, Raise Your Hand and Gimme Little Sign. Eric and Victor provide saxophone on some of the tracks on this EP and all are handled very well, although Gimme Little Sign is not really my cup of tea.

The liner notes on this last EP claim it appeared four years after the band’s debut, which would date it at 1970, but this is almost certainly wrong. All the Trailers recordings appeared on the Cosdel label, but starting in early 1968 a number of Cosdel artists received international release through an arrangement with RCA. The catalogue number SGE 0005 would place this EP as one of the first such releases. Actually, the Trailers appeared on the first recording that appeared as part of this deal when they backed three young girl singers called the Tidbits, who got to make a record as part of their prize for winning a talent contest. The tunes the girls tackle on that EP are not really the sort of thing the Trailers would go for I imagine. The Trailers, did however, provide the backing on at least three EPs for a pretty cool Singapore singer called Lara Tan, who may or may not have been related to Eric or Edmund Tan.

The band reunited to appear at a couple of 60s nostalgia concerts in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Their first single on Cosdel CSP-1007:
The Trailers - Do It Right
The Trailers - Thunderball

Their second single on Cosdel CSP-1008:
The Trailers - Don't Laugh (You'll Cry)
The Trailers - Lucille

From their instrumental EP, O.B. a Go Go, Cosdel CEP-3001:
The Trailers - Phoenix's Theme
The Trailers - Ali San

From the Trailers' Big 4 EP, Cosdel CEP-3003:
The Trailers - Quiver

From their last EP:
The Trailers - I'm Ready Now
The Trailers - Peter Gunn
The Trailers - Raise Your Hand

For more information about the Trailers check out the article by Joseph Pereira that appeared in Fancy Mag a few years back.

At the age of nineteen Shirley had joined a group called the Checkmates singing Beatles covers and other beat songs. That was in late 1964. She did not stay with the Checkmates long before she teamed up with the Silver Strings. It seems the band only released a handful of records backing Shirley, including the songs If You Ever Go, You’re The Boy, Too Late For Tears, Come Home To Me, Don’t Leave Me, I Won’t Let You See Me Cry, I’ll Remember Today, and Two People.
 
Unlike many other Singaporean performers of the day, Shirley wrote her own material, at least that’s the case with the stuff I have seen. The overall impression I get from Shirley the singer/songwriter and the Silver Strings is a positive one. These are good pop songs.

Included here are what were probably Shirley’s second and third singles, from late 1965 or 1966. Why the band did not go on to produce more music, I do not know. I cannot find any information about what happened to Shirley, but it seems the Silver Strings may still be performing in Singapore at sixties revival concerts.

Submitted by Steve Farram

Updated on March 30, 2008 to include You're the Boy
 
Shirley Nair with the Silver Strings - If You Ever Go
Shirley Nair with the Silver Strings - You're the Boy
Shirley Nair with the Silver Strings - Don't Leave Me
Shirley Nair with the Silver Strings - I Won't Let You See Me Cry